Simon Wheatcroft

Simon Wheatcroft is a blind tech pioneer, ultramarathon runner, and award-winning educator who specialises in inclusive technology and accessibility innovation. After losing his sight at 17, he taught himself to run ultramarathons using only smartphone technology and his remaining senses, becoming the first blind person to complete the New York Marathon solo. He has collaborated with IBM, MIT, and Google on groundbreaking projects including AI machine learning systems, robotic control technology for motor neurone disease, and data sonification. Through his work and motivational presentations, Simon equips organisations with practical strategies to embrace inclusive design, harness adaptive technology, and empower teams to achieve what initially seems impossible.

Seven months after teaching himself to run outdoors using only a smartphone app and his remaining senses, Simon Wheatcroft completed his first race: a 100-mile ultramarathon. Born with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition that left him blind at 17, Simon refused to accept limitations and instead turned to technology to unlock possibilities others deemed impossible. What began as a personal mission to navigate the world independently evolved into a remarkable career at the intersection of endurance sport, inclusive technology, and education. His determination to compete on equal terms with sighted runners, rather than in separate categories, has since taken him across ultramarathons in the UK, the deserts of North Africa, and onto the streets of New York, where he made history as the first blind person to complete the New York Marathon solo.

Simon's unique perspective as a blind athlete and technologist has positioned him at the forefront of accessible innovation. He has collaborated with IBM, MIT, and Google to develop groundbreaking solutions that address real-world challenges, from robotic control systems for individuals with motor neurone disease to AI machine learning platforms and data sonification tools. Recognising that inclusive design benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities, Simon founded Hackcessible, a user-led accessible hackathon that places people with lived experience at the centre of the innovation process. His work demonstrates how technology designed to overcome barriers for one community can create better solutions for all. Beyond his technology partnerships, Simon's achievements in education earned him the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Gold Award for Outstanding New Teacher, whilst his story has been featured across global media including CBS News, BBC Click, and the New York Times.

Simon's presentations equip organisations with practical strategies to embrace inclusive design, adapt existing technology for wider accessibility, and empower teams to achieve goals that initially seem out of reach. Drawing on his experience running ultramarathons without sight and developing technology with leading firms, he helps audiences understand how user-centric thinking drives innovation and how adversity can reveal untapped potential within teams. Whether addressing diversity in technology, the balance between failure and quitting, or leadership through shared vision, Simon's insights are grounded in lived experience and measurable outcomes. Audiences leave with actionable approaches to breaking down barriers, fostering inclusive cultures, and redefining what's possible when determination meets adaptive thinking.